[SOLVED] ficus species

[shibui]

This fig is cutting grown from a tree at an old homestead on the Goulburn river near Shepparton in Victoria. There are a number of large Ficus macrophylla and one tree with much smaller leaves that have been planted as shade trees around the homestead so I collected cuttings and seed.
This one has different attributes to the ficus rubiginosa I am familiar with so I hope some of our more tropical ficus gurus might be able to help with id.
The trunks have these characteristic 'wrinkles' - probably the scars left from long gone leaves.

ficus sp -trunk.JPG

ficus sp -leaf above.JPG

Leaves are quite rusty below

ficus sp - under leaf.JPG

and finally, fruit

ficus sp -fruit1.JPG

Some other observations that might assist with id.
These trees are quite slow to thicken and do not seem to produce long shoots.
These cuttings (from a mature tree) have produced fruit every year since I struck them
Seedlings show different characteristics - leaves do not have the rusty undersides, trunk is much smoother, trunks are thickened at the base and have strong natural taper, giving a quite conical trunk.

Many thanks for the assistance

Solved
By Ash - F. rubiginosa

[Damian Bee]

Moreton Bay?

[Ash]

Hi, Is the ostiole (the pore at the apex of the fig through which the wasps enter the fig) rounded and tiny? or elongate and a little bit open?

With rusty hairy red leaves like that it almost certainly has to be Ficus rubiginosa or Ficus destruens. The shape of the opening and the shape of the mature fig will give it away. A large (a few mm) and elongate ostiole on an elongate fig would be Ficus destruens. Have you got a pic of the fig end on?

Ash

[Ash]

The hairs on the undersurface of the moreton bay fig (Ficus macrophylla) are anastomosed (matted), and feel almost smooth. Your fig has both ferruginous and hyaline hairs and round figs makes me lean towards F. rubiginosa and by the way I want one!
A

[daiviet_nguyen]

Hi Ash and shibui,

F. rubiginosa means Port Jackson. But the surface of the leaf shown is not shiny enough to be a Port Jackson -- IMHO.

Regards.

[Joel]

Ficus macrophylla has longer pedicels.

[shibui]

Heres the end of a fruit Ash. Appears to have a round entrance 'ostiole' - new word for me. Its a good one too!

PICT0001.JPG

It has always confused me that F. rubiginosa is supposed to be 'rusty fig' with red backs on the leaves but few if any rubiginosas I have seen as bonsai have this. Does this mean we are all growing another species?
Even the trees I've looked at on the NSW south coast that should be rubiginosa don't have this rusty underside to the leaves????

In any case I have a few of these here and they strike quite easily so If you need one let me know and we'll work out how to get it to you.

[Ash]

Nice pic - Ficus rubiginosa for sure. Both the glabrous (non-hairy) and rusty leaf phenotypes are considered the same species but there are varietal names.

cheers
Ash